{"id":346672,"date":"2025-10-31T23:34:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T23:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/346672\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T23:34:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T23:34:14","slug":"terrified-chicagoans-join-illinois-dems-in-calling-for-probe-into-homeland-securitys-tactics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/346672\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Terrified’ Chicagoans Join Illinois Dems In Calling For Probe Into Homeland Security’s Tactics"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is part of our series of daily recaps of ICE activity in the Chicago region. Have a tip we should check out? Email\u00a0newsroom@blockclubchi.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CITY HALL \u2014 State Democrats are calling for an investigation into recent immigration enforcement operations that have included federal agents detaining United States citizens and deploying tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley\u00a0sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Office of the Inspector General this week demanding an investigation into \u201calleged violations of due process rights and indiscriminate deployment of immigration enforcement actions impacting children.\u201d<\/p>\n

The letter, which Quigley said has been supported by the entire Illinois House Democratic Delegation, cites a recently-extended consent decree that limits warrantless arrests<\/a> as well as multiple incidents in which federal agents used excessive force. <\/p>\n

During a Friday news conference at City Hall, Quigley said federal immigration agents have \u201cblatantly violated the rights of Chicagoans since they arrived in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have racially profiled citizens, conducted warrantless arrests, caused car accidents used excessive force leading to injuries and hospitalizations,\u201d he said. \u201cNone of this is making us safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The letter also lists a series of questions about the number of warrantless arrests that have occurred in Illinois since President Donald Trump took office, the number of U.S. citizens that have been arrested by federal law enforcement and details about what the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s guidelines are regarding the use of force. The letter requests that answers be sent by Nov. 21.<\/p>\n

The Department of Homeland Security did not reply to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

\"\"Lakeview resident Leo Feler speaks during an Oct. 31, 2025 news conference. Credit: Molly DeVore\/ Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Neighbors who have been affected by recent immigration enforcement activities also spoke during the Friday news conference. Lakeview resident Leo Feler said federal agents jumped his five-foot-tall, wrought iron fence to detain a man who was working on his siding and windows just last week.<\/a><\/p>\n

Feler said that last week masked agents jumped out of two unmarked vehicles and jumped his fence, chasing three construction workers, ultimately detaining one man inside his garage.<\/p>\n

Feler was not home at the time of the incident, but one of his tenants was. He said that when she went outside and asked to see a warrant, the agents ignored her. He said the agents also climbed onto his balcony and tried to pull one of the workers out of a second story window. One of the workers was injured during the chase and Feler said he spent most of last weekend cleaning up blood.<\/p>\n

\"\"Federal agents detained a construction worker in the 3300 block of North Lakewood Avenue in Lakeview, and then threw chemical agents at responding neighbors on Oct. 24, 2025. Credit: Provided<\/p>\n

The federal agents deployed tear ga<\/a>s as Lakeview neighbors followed their cars after the arrest.<\/p>\n

Feler called the event \u201ca violent raid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure if they were injured because they were running through a construction site or because they were roughed up by the agents or both,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Feler tried to file a police report for trespassing, breaking and entering, burglary, battery, assault and kidnapping, but said officers at his local station said declined to file the report. He went to the Chicago Police Detective Bureau to file a report for criminal damage to property, but said the sergeant later called him and said they would not be able to continue with the report.<\/p>\n

Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th) is currently working with Feler to get a report filed.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould the U.S. government be allowed to invade your property, to jump over a locked fence, to come onto your home simply because they might observe someone who looks Hispanic or Latino and who might be an immigrant on your property?\u201d Feler asked the crowd during the Friday news conference.<\/p>\n

\"\"Lakeview resident Leo Feler shows a photo of a worker who was injured during an immigration raid at Feler\u2019s house on October 24. Credit: Molly DeVore\/ Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Vanessa Aguirre-\u00c1valos, the owner of Luna y Cielo Play Cafe<\/a> in Logan Square, shared how immigration enforcement has affected her business, which caters to bilingual children and families looking to practice their Spanish.<\/p>\n

At the start of the month, federal agents deployed tear gas outside Luna y Cielo, which sits next to Funston Elementary School, 3616 W. Armitage Ave.<\/p>\n

\u201cInside Luna y Cielo children and caregivers were terrified,\u201d Aguirre-\u00c1valos said. <\/p>\n

She said one 3-year-old girl who witnessed the event now freezes every time she sees police lights.<\/p>\n

Aguirre-\u00c1valos\u2019 eyes filled with tears as she said she may have to close because families are now afraid to come to her business.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur days are filled with the constant hum of Black Hawk helicopters circling above, searching for people to abduct,\u201d she said. \u201cI am deeply worried about the trauma this is causing our children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quigley said he and his colleagues in Illinois House Democratic Caucus are documenting \u201cevery illegal incident we know of here in Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I\u2019m sure that the Trump administration will do everything in its power to prevent a fair and independent investigation, it is still imperative that we make official complaints about these actions,\u201d Quigley said. \u201cWhen we retake the House, we\u2019re going to launch every congressional investigation we have at our disposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quigley said he will call for a \u201csignificant reduction\u201d in funding for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n

Bovino Won\u2019t Have To Report To Court Daily, Appeals Court Rules<\/p>\n

A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled Friday that Border Chief Gregory Bovino is not required to make daily court appearances to make use-of-force reports to U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis.<\/p>\n

The Tribune\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0that the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Ellis\u2019 order would put the court \u201cin the position of an inquisitor rather than that of a neutral adjudicator\u201d and that it would set her up as a \u201csupervisor\u201d of Bovino\u2019s activities, infringing on the separation of powers.<\/p>\n

Ellis, who is overseeing a lawsuit filed by Block Club and other organizations<\/a> over federal immigration agents\u2019 use of force, previously ordered<\/a> Bovino to make daily reports after the actions of his agents throughout the month flouted a previous temporary restraining order.<\/p>\n

Happening In Chicago<\/p>\n